Gracefully he strode across the room with the confidence of one who had already mastered the situation; planned for his Lordship a complete victory, and there was naught left to do but carry out the methodical arrangements thus quickly formulated.  He placed his hand lightly upon Cedric’s shoulder.  His touch was like magic, for his Lordship started.

“Cedric, I have rid hard and would seek my bed.  Come with me and calm thyself.  Yonder maid thou shalt have, so sure as thou dost do my bidding; and she will sigh and draw quick breath and preen herself to gain from thee one amorous glance; and will do penance for her untowardness and offer hecatombs as high as zenith will allow.”

“Dost think so, Julian?  It gives me hope to hear thee thus speak.”

“Indeed, I may say—­’tis done—­even though ’twere precipitately avowed;—­but oft, ’tis the premature babe that doth become the most precocious child, and ’tis well to foster that ’tis fecund.”

“But, Julian, she hath another lover,—­and now that I think on’t, didst thou meet a knave upon horse, perhaps, attended by a swaggering groom as thou cam’st through the village or thereabouts?”

“Thou hast said it.  A half-league beyond Crandlemar there past me at furious speed a devil-upon-horse.  I hallowed once and again to no avail, so I prodded the fellow with my sword to assist his respiratory organs, as he flew by.  ’Twas a kindly act, for he immediately found his breath and—­swore.”

“And didst notice his livery?”

“Nay, for the trees were too ostentatious and flaunted their new, green finery impudently and hid Neptune’s satellite or—­’twas cloudy, I could not see.  Come, come, I must and thou, too, have sleep if the God thereof doth not wantonly spend too much time with thy mistress;—­but thou shalt soon offset him and I may have, for one night at least, his undivided attention.”

“Ah, heaven, that thy words may prove true.  ’Tis hard to bide the time.  Come, let us begone from this foul nest that reeks of blood.”

CHAPTER XI

JACQUES DEMPSY

To Katherine’s untutored vision of social and religious matters, all appeared like a placid sea; but beneath, political dissension complicated by religious wrangling produced a vigorous under-current into which she was to be drawn.

The exegencies of poverty and exile through which King Charles had passed made him resolve not to “go again upon his travels,” and for this cause he tolerated the Episcopal religion, of which system the cavaliers were votaries; and they supported the royal prerogative.  Being an alien to honour, truth and virtue, he was not stirred to a wholesome interest of importunities, save when a voluptuously beautiful female solicited his attention.  Now ‘twas Lady Constance’ plan to forward Count Cantemir’s suit with Mistress Penwick and hasten a marriage that could only be clandestine, owing to Lord Cedric’s vigilance.  If this scheme should prove abortive, it was her intention to bring the maid to the king’s notice.  Here were two lines of battle, each surrounded by skirmishing detachments.  She was subtle in the extreme, and arranged warily these side issues, which had more of death and utter destruction in them than an open onset.